NEWS ROUND-UP
Ex-Monarch boss Swaffield leads Virgin loyalty scheme
Amie Keeley and Harry Kemble
The former boss of failed airline Monarch has returned to travel to head a new Virgin Group-wide loyalty programme.
Andrew Swaffield has been
appointed chief executive of Virgin Group Loyalty Company (VGLC), which will allow members to earn and spend Virgin Atlantic air miles across a range of the group’s brands, from gym membership to broadband. VGLC will launch in 2019 and
will be owned by Virgin Group and Delta Air Lines. Swaffield was chief executive of Monarch Airlines when it collapsed last October with 110,000 customers overseas. Before that he held roles at British Airways, where he was chief executive of Avios, and spent 10 years with Thomas Cook. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club
will remain as the frequent-flyer programme and will continue to use miles as its currency.
Devon independent Braunton Travel opens agency in Bideford
Braunton Travel in Devon has opened a second branch, in Bideford, as it seizes an opportunity to become the only independent agency in the town. Bideford Travel opened this
week in a former cafe, with a ‘grand opening’ planned for Saturday. Both stores are part of Hays Independence Group. Owner Sue Hunter, who has
been in travel for 17 years and opened Braunton Travel four
BIDEFORD TRAVEL: Michelle Thompson and Sue Hunter (right)
years ago, said: “There is only one other agency in Bideford, a Tui, and as an independent, it
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travelweekly.co.uk 23 August 2018
SWAFFIELD: ‘Customers expect to be rewarded for their loyalty’
Flying Club members will continue to earn Tier Points, and will still earn and spend miles across Virgin Atlantic, Delta and a range of airline and other partners. Existing loyalty start-up Virgin
Red will be integrated into the group-wide programme. Swaffield said: “Virgin is one of the most-admired brands in the UK and across the world, serving 53 million customers each year across 60 companies. “Customers expect to be
rewarded for their loyalty to Virgin and we want to ensure that
they get the best rewards possible. “Our ambition is to bring the
Virgin companies together and combine their appeal to customers.” Oli Byers, Virgin Atlantic’s
senior vice-president for global sales and customer loyalty, said: “We’re excited to work with the Virgin Group to build a stronger loyalty programme and to unleash the power of our shared brand to reward customers for their loyalty. “We’ll be giving customers more
reasons to join Flying Club and to fly with Virgin Atlantic and our airline partners.”
seemed a perfect opportunity. We were getting customers from the Bideford area because we were the nearest independent. “This isn’t just a business opportunity. We are bringing our level of customer service, knowledge and independence to people without access to it.” Bideford Travel will have
two full-time staff, including manager Michelle Thompson, and one part-timer. The agency is running a prize
draw as part of its opening promotion, offering prizes such as a holiday for two in Greece and a round of golf for two.
Jessica Nuttall
The Travel Village’s boss aims to expand business’s retail arm
The new boss of The Travel Village has outlined her ambition to grow the group’s retail arm, after taking over the Blackpool agency last week. Jessica Nuttall, daughter of
The Travel Village Group owner Phil Nuttall, has recruited five staff, two of whom have 20-plus years’ travel retail experience, to help achieve her target. She said: “We want to bring
The Travel Village alive by growing the retail arm of the business. “It is a big challenge day-to-
day but hopefully we will see some growth in the near future.” To build business Nuttall, head of social media and business development, plans to organise in-store events and attend travel trade events with her revamped team. The Travel Village Group
comprises The Cruise Village, homeworking division The Holiday Village and one-store agency The Travel Village.
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